Fall and Winter Vegetables

Fall is for Planting!

We are all busy getting ready for fall and overwinter gardens here at GardenWorks! With a little bit of planning and some crop cover, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh vegetables all fall and winter long.

Start planting now to enjoy a home-grown Thanksgiving feast!

Summer planting for fall and winter harvest:

Leafy vegetables such as arugula, kale, spinach, pac choi, and swiss chard thrive in the cooler months where “bolting”, or going to seed, is less of a worry.

Direct sow these leafy vegetables until the end of September and harvest starting as early as October. There is no need to worry about crop cover or mulching until temperatures dip to freezing. Swiss chard should be started earlier in the summer, or transplant nursery seedlings through September.

Herbs:

Herbs can generally all be grown indoors 12 months a year. If you wish to plant outside then parsley, chervil, and cilantro grow particularly trouble free in cold weather. Direct sow these herbs through until the end of September, using a cloche for cilantro until germination occurs. Covering these plants with cloche protection as the nights become cooler in late October will give you fresh cut herbs all winter long.

Cruciferous Veggies:

Don’t forget to give cruciferous vegetables some love!

The Brassica family, home to broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage are wonderful winter growers that are extremely hardy to the cold. Broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflower should be transplanted as seedlings in August until early September. They will only need a light cloche covering at least one week before the first frost. Cabbage seedlings transplanted in August-September will overwinter well without any protection, ready for harvest in the early spring.

West Coast Seeds varieties to look for:

Root Vegetables:

Root vegetables can take very cold weather easily with mulch covering during November through January to prevent the roots from freezing. Carrots and parsnips become even sweeter after the frost hits because this is when the plant converts starches into sugar for energy! Direct sow beets, carrots, and turnips August through mid September for fall and winter harvests.